Cladding is being removed from a Liverpool tower block after it failed to meet new fire safety regulations - despite an £8.5m refurbishment.

Liverpool Mutual Homes confirmed they would today start removing cladding from Marwood Towers in Everton after tests found it did not meet new standards set by the Building Research Establishment.

The building recently underwent a multi-million pound overhaul.

A page advertising the refurbishment on LMH’s website says “modern, energy-saving external wall cladding” was installed, which they hoped would “visually enhance the 15-storey tower, and also tackle fuel poverty”.

Although the cladding is not the same brand used in Grenfell Tower in Kensington , the housing association says they were “shocked and disappointed” to find the samples sent away for testing did not meet the new standards set by BRE.

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A statement released by LMH said: “The cladding system at Marwood Towers uses ‘fire stops’ to seal any openings and joints, and prevent fire spread between the cladding panels together with the use of inflammable insulation behind the cladding. This was checked to ensure the installation was carried out to required standards.

“A team comprising LMH, contractor Willmott Dixon and a tenant representative oversaw testing. Four panels were removed from different locations. In all cases, ‘fire stops’ were found to be present, fitted correctly and in good order.

“Results from the BRE were received today. They confirm that the cladding is Alucobond Plus, which is highly fire retardant, unlike that used at Grenfell Tower. However, LMH was shocked and disappointed to discover that the samples did not meet the new standards set by BRE.”

Cladding being from Marwood Towers off Great Homer Street in Everton (Image: Jason Roberts)

Liverpool City Council yesterday moved to assure ECHO readers that none of the 28 high rise housing association building sin the city have the same cladding as Grenfell Tower.

Ann O’Byrne, deputy mayor of Liverpool, said: “We have a duty of care to residents to reassure them their buildings are safe, whether they live in a high or low rise block or one that has recently been refurbished.

Contractors are now removing the cladding from the building as a “precautionary measure” - and representatives from the housing associations are meeting with Merseyside Fire and Rescue to discuss fire regulations for the building.

LMH claim they “had been assured” that the cladding met all building regulations at the time of the regeneration - and that fire safety was at the “forefront” of the investment.

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They said: “LMH had been assured that the cladding at Marwood Towers met all building regulations in place during the recent £8.5 million refurbishment programme and fire safety was at the forefront of this investment.

“A variety of additional fire safety features were also installed, including sprinklers and heat and smoke sensors in homes and communal areas, together with fire doors with automatic closure mechanisms throughout, making this block amongst the safest in the country.

“We would like to reassure residents that safety is our first priority and that the action being taken is to provide additional reassurance to tenants.”